A Nation Once Again

by Thomas Osborne Davis

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 When boyhood's fire  was  in my blood

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 I  read of  ancient   freemen,

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 For Greece and  Rome who  bravely stood,

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 Three hundred men  and   three men;

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 Then I prayed I yet  might see

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 Our fetters rent in twain,

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 And  Ireland, long a province, be.

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 A Nation once again!



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 A Nation once again,

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 A Nation once again,

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 And lreland,  long  a   province, be

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 A    Nation once again!


And from that time, through wildest woe,
That hope has shone a far light,
Nor could love's brightest summer glow
Outshine that solemn starlight;
It seemed to watch above my head
In forum, field and fane,
Its angel voice sang round my bed,
A Nation once again!


It whisper'd too, that freedom's ark
And service high and holy,
Would be profaned by feelings dark
And passions vain or lowly;
For, Freedom comes from God's right hand,
And needs a Godly train;
And righteous men must make our land
A Nation once again!


So, as I grew from boy to man,
I bent me to that bidding
My spirit of each selfish plan
And cruel passion ridding;
For, thus I hoped some day to aid,
Oh, can such hope be vain ?
When my dear country shall be made
A Nation once again!